By the end of this guide you will have run a draft through an AI grammar checker, fixed the spelling, punctuation and grammar problems it found, and done a final human read that catches what the software missed. The checking is done by an AI writing assistant that flags errors as you type or when you paste a finished draft, and explains or suggests the fix.
If you want an AI grammar checker, the first decision is where you write: in a browser or app you already use, in a dedicated web page, or in an academic document with citations. This guide covers each case and compares six tools from our Writing category.
Key takeaways
- Paste your draft into a grammar checker (or install one where you write), accept the fixes that are right, reject the ones that change your meaning, then proofread once more yourself.
- The main decision is where the checker lives: an extension or app inside your usual tools, a standalone web page, or an academic editor.
- Free plans cover the basics and cap the rest. Grammarly's Free plan includes 100 AI prompts a month, and ParagraphAI's Free plan allows 5 daily uses.
- AI checkers miss errors and make wrong suggestions. A human read is still required for anything important.
What you need before you start
- Your draft. A finished or nearly finished piece of writing in a document or a text box.
- A style decision. Know your spelling variant, tone and any style rules, such as your employer's guide.
- An account or extension. Several tools work free in the browser, and some add a Chrome extension or mobile app.
- Time. Under an hour for a typical document. Longer reports take more.
- Difficulty. Easy. The skill is deciding which suggestions to accept.
- Privacy. If the text is confidential, check the vendor's data terms before you paste it into a web tool.
Which kind of AI tool fits this job
Pick by where you write and how deep the check needs to go.
An assistant inside your everyday apps. Grammarly checks what you type, catches typos, punctuation and grammar errors, shows the tone of a message, and on paid plans rewrites full sentences. It works across Gmail, Outlook, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Slack, Teams and LinkedIn, and lists web, iOS and Android. Jetwriter AI fixes grammar in selected text from a Chrome extension, with a web app for browsers and phones where extensions are not supported. ParagraphAI offers a Fix action, an AI keyboard and a Chrome extension, and works in more than 40 languages.
A dedicated web writing suite. QuillBot is built around a paraphraser but includes a grammar checker with writing suggestions, a summarizer, a plagiarism checker and a citation generator, on the web, in extensions and in a mobile app. ReText.AI corrects spelling, grammar and punctuation with explanations of the rules, alongside paraphrasing, summarizing and an AI detector. Its interface and support are partly in Russian.
An academic editor. Jenni is built for academic and professional work. Its reviews run proofreading, claim confidence, source quality and tone checks across a document, and it handles citations in any style. Choose it for essays and papers rather than for quick emails.
Step 1: Finish your draft first
Checking works best on a complete draft.
- Finish the content before you polish the wording, so you do not fix sentences you later cut.
- Save a copy of the unedited draft.
- Decide your spelling variant and tone. Tell the tool if it has a setting for this.
- Remove anything confidential that you do not want to paste into a web tool.
Check it worked by having a saved, complete draft you are willing to polish.
Step 2: Choose a checker and set it up
You end this step with a tool ready where you write.
- If you write mostly in email and documents, choose an assistant that lives there, such as Grammarly or Jetwriter AI. If you prefer to paste text in, use QuillBot or ReText.AI.
- Check the free limits. Grammarly's Free plan has limited features, ReText.AI's free use has daily character limits, and ParagraphAI's Free plan caps input at 1000 characters.
- Check language support. ParagraphAI lists 40+ languages and Grammarly lists more than 20.
- Install the extension or app, or open the web page, and sign in if needed.
Check it worked by seeing the checker flag a deliberate typo in a test sentence.
Step 3: Run the first pass on spelling and punctuation
Start with the fixes that are objectively right.
- Paste your draft in chunks, or open the document with the extension active.
- Run the check and look at the first set of suggestions.
- Accept clear spelling and punctuation corrections one at a time, rather than using an accept-all button.
- Read the explanation where the tool gives one. ReText.AI explains the rules behind its corrections, which helps you learn the pattern.
Check it worked by seeing the flagged errors drop to the ones that need a decision.
Step 4: Review grammar and clarity suggestions
This is where judgement matters.
- Read each grammar suggestion in context, not just the highlighted word.
- Reject any suggestion that changes your meaning, removes a deliberate style choice or breaks a proper noun.
- Look at tone feedback. Grammarly shows the tone of a message, and Jetwriter AI lets you pick a tone such as Professional, Casual or Friendly.
- Simplify long sentences that the tool flags, but keep your own rhythm.
Check it worked by reading the revised paragraph and confirming it still says what you meant.
Step 5: Use rewrite and tone tools sparingly
Rewrites go further than corrections, so check them harder.
- Use sentence rewrites only on lines that are genuinely unclear. Grammarly's full-sentence rewrites are on paid plans.
- Compare the rewrite with your original for facts, numbers and qualifiers.
- For academic work, use a reviewer such as Jenni to check claims, tone and sources, then verify against the original sources yourself.
- Do not let a rewrite flatten your voice.
Check it worked by confirming each rewritten sentence is still accurate.
Step 6: Read it yourself, out loud
A human pass catches what software cannot.
- Read the whole piece aloud, slowly, or have it read to you.
- Check names, dates, numbers and technical terms, since checkers often skip or "correct" them.
- Look for the wrong word that is spelled correctly, such as "form" for "from".
- Ask a colleague to read anything that is high stakes: a contract, a job application, a grant, a thesis or published copy.
Check it worked by having nothing left that you would be embarrassed to see in print.
Step 7: Finalise and set up for next time
Lock in the result and make the next check quicker.
- Export or copy the final text. Free plans may limit exports, as Jenni's Free plan exports only body content.
- Add recurring terms to the tool's dictionary or style settings where it offers them. Grammarly lists style guides and snippets for teams.
- Turn the checker on in the apps where you write most often.
- If you use a plagiarism or AI-detection feature, treat it as a signal and not a verdict. Grammarly lists both on paid plans, and QuillBot lists plagiarism checking as a Premium feature.
Check it worked by running the final version through the checker one last time and seeing nothing unexpected.
Tools for this job compared
| Tool | Good fit for | Pricing | Stated limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grammarly | Checking inside Gmail, Docs, Word and Slack on web, iOS and Android | Freemium, paid from $12/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free plan: 100 AI prompts a month and limited features; plagiarism and AI text detection need a paid plan |
| QuillBot | A grammar checker with paraphrasing and citations on web and mobile | Freemium | Free account paraphrases up to 125 words at once; plagiarism checking is Premium only |
| ReText.AI | Spelling and punctuation corrections with rule explanations, on web and API | Freemium, paid from $12/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free use has daily character limits; interface and support partly in Russian |
| Jetwriter AI | Fixing grammar in selected text from a Chrome extension or web app | Freemium, paid from $14/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free plan: 15 regular model responses a month and no advanced model responses |
| ParagraphAI | Fix and Edit actions on an AI keyboard and Chrome extension | Freemium, paid from $24.99/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free plan: 5 daily uses and input limited to 1000 characters; advanced editing needs Pro |
| Jenni | Academic drafts with proofreading reviews and citations | Freemium, paid from $12/mo (checked 24 Oct 2026) | Free: 10 AI Autocompletes per day; exports only body content; PDF uploads capped at 25 MB |
Prices and plan limits change, so confirm the current terms on each vendor's site before you subscribe.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Accepting every suggestion. Checkers sometimes change meaning or flag correct usage. Fix it by reading each change in context and rejecting the wrong ones.
- Trusting the tool with names and numbers. Proper nouns, figures and technical terms are easy for software to mangle. Fix it by checking them against your sources yourself.
- Using rewrites as a shortcut. Full-sentence rewrites can drift from what you meant. Fix it by using corrections first and rewrites only where you need them.
- Pasting confidential text into a web tool. Private contracts or client documents may not be safe to share. Fix it by checking the vendor's data terms, or by proofreading by hand.
- Skipping the final read. A checker can pass a sentence that is grammatical but wrong. Fix it by reading the piece aloud, and by asking another person to check high-stakes work.
How we put this together
This is an evidence-based guide built from each tool's listing in our directory, which is compiled from the vendor's own site and pricing page. It is not a review based on using the tools. We don't rank tools, and nobody paid to be included. Some outbound links may be affiliate links; see our disclosure.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a free AI grammar checker?
Yes, several. Grammarly's Free plan costs $0 and includes 100 AI prompts a month, QuillBot has a free account, ReText.AI has free daily use, ParagraphAI's Free plan allows 5 daily uses, and Jenni has a Free plan. Each has caps, so check what the free tier includes before relying on it.
Can AI proofread accurately?
It catches many typos and common grammar errors, but not all of them, and it sometimes suggests changes you should refuse. Treat it as a first pass. A human read is needed for anything important, including legal, medical, financial or academic work.
Which grammar checker is good on a phone?
Grammarly lists iOS and Android, QuillBot lists a mobile app, and ParagraphAI offers an AI keyboard. Jetwriter AI has a web app for phones where extensions are not supported. Check each vendor's site for current app features.
Can I check grammar in languages other than English?
Some tools support more languages. ParagraphAI works in 40+ languages, Grammarly lists writing help in more than 20 languages, and ReText.AI works in Russian, English and other languages. Check the language list for your tool before you start.
Can I keep my text private?
Each tool handles data differently, and our listings do not give full details. Read the vendor's privacy terms before pasting confidential text, and leave out personal or sensitive data if you are unsure.
Compare more options in our Writing category. For rewording, see How to paraphrase and rewrite text with AI.
